50% of California chidren studied were deficient in vitamin A. Researchers stated in their final sentence - This frequency among presumably well nourished American children supports evaluation of vitamin A status as a part of acute management of measles in the United States.
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ABSTRACT
Studies from Africa suggest that vitamin A supplementation may reduce morbidity and mortality rates associated with measles among poorly nourished children. We studied 20 children with measles in Long Beach, Calif., and found that 50% (95% confidence interval; 28% to 72%) were vitamin A deficient. This frequency among presumably well nourished American children supports evaluation of vitamin A status as a part of acute management of measles in the United States.